Change of Trajectory

I resigned my job yesterday.

I didn't envision my departure from Thailand going down like it has. I mean, I'm not leaving the country until mid-June, but I'm already beginning the transition back to the States.

My decision to leave was made pretty quickly, but I have complete peace about it and I know it's the right thing at this point in my life.

I am working on getting some irons into the fire, as they say, and we'll see what happens. I'm looking to go back to North Dakota to regroup, at least for a year or two. 

I know this is not the end in any sense of the word. Life's trajectory has just changed angles again and I have to figure out where I am now going.

Thus, the adventure continues.

Soli deo gloria.

Five Friday Things: 5 Things You May Not Know

Today I am joining up with 5 on Friday, Oh Hey Friday!, Friday Favorites, and Kelly's relaunching of SUYL. Since I'm apparently trying to see how many blog link-ups I can join at one time, I thought I would share with you today five things you may not know about me. I just updated my "About Me" page this fall and, let's face it, I haven't gotten all that more exciting since then.

One. I have never had the chicken pox. Due to a poor family history with chicken pox, my parents chose to have us vaccinated against the disease when we were young. The vaccine worked and I have so far escaped the itchy torture of the childhood disease. I have had more than my share of strep throat though. I lost track after 17 instances, thankyouverymuch.

Two. To describe a person or food from Italy, I say "Eye-talian." I guess the normal thing to say is "Ih-talin" with a short "i." I was not aware I said this until a friend pointed it out to me shortly after I moved to Bangkok. So I have lived all of my life thus far sounding like a fool whenever I speak of the things of Italy. Good thing I don't live there, I suppose.

Three. I am also unintentionally really bad at geography. As of two weeks ago, I just found out Guam is in the Pacific. I have spent the majority of my life thinking it was by Cuba. I also struggle to remember which, between Toledo and Toronto, is the US and which is in Canada. I also think India should be an 8th continent and I am forever unsure of where exactly Japan belongs in relation to China and Russia.

Four. I really am not a fan of surprises. I startle easily and my initial instinct is to hit at whatever emerges in my way. This doesn't work so well when students try to be funny and startle me. Likewise, I often read the summary of a movie before I go to the theatre because I much more enjoy being able to watch the story unfold as opposed to having to figure out the story as I go. I also Wikipedia TV series when I start watching them. I have been known to read the online summaries of books as well. And, not that it has ever been a concern, but the idea of a surprise party makes me really uneasy. #Funsucker #Iknow

Five. All the apps on my iPhone are organized in pages by frequency of use and they are alphabetized within the page. I get made fun of all the time, but haters gonna hate. Maybe it is part of not liking surprises, but I like to know that each "thing" has a place to belong and is in some semblance of order.

And in the case you are further interested...
What's in a Name? About the Author. Now You All Can Know. 10 Things about Yours Truly.

A. Liz Adventures/Carolina Charm

Hello! Happiness/The Good Life Blog

The Farmer's Wife/September Farm

A Little Bit of Everything

Grace and Love/Momfessionals

Five Friday Things: Clothes, Facebook, Email, Simplicity, and Plans

One. I love Pinterest and the ability to build my virtual closet at no actual cost to myself. Too bad I spend most of my time pinning outfits that are just not practical for Bangkok. If I lived in northern Thailand, I would be able to get away with some of these outfits. But, alas, I live in the tropic megalopolis, so all cozy outfits will have to remain on Pinterest. I'm currently loving this outfit...


These riding boots in black...



This necklace...


This bag... 


This versatile top... 


Two. Earlier this week, my Facebook notifications were up to something like 50+ after just three days of not logging in and I couldn't handle it. I have a love-hate relationship with Facebook as it is, but then seeing that made me want to run from the corner and not come out until all was back to normal. I finally put on my big girl pants and dealt with it but uffda.

Three. Along with my Facebook being out of control, my emails are currently out of control. I am working on switching over from Hotmail to Gmail (I know, shun me), but even within Gmail, my inboxes are insane. Part of getting a grip on life again is getting my inboxes under control. Yesterday, I was able to get my graduate school account under control. I am going to conquer my work email next. My personal email will just have to wait and continue to haunt me for the time being.

Four. I haven't been homesick per se as of late, but I have really been missing the simplicity of North Dakota. I daydream about driving my own car, about quickly running to the grocery store after work, about leisurely strolling around outside and not breaking into a fierce sweat. Yesterday I went to Home Pro, a glorified home improvement store, and found myself wishing I could go to Menard's and shop around for a project. Like I said, I'm not really homesick, but I am missing a more simple way of life.

Five. I am off to the beach this weekend! I'm also looking at tickets to Singapore and seeing how I really don't have many more free weekends until June! I can't believe how the spring has filled up already but I'm looking forward to everything to come!

A. Liz Adventures/Carolina Charm

Hello! Happiness/The Good Life Blog

The Farmer's Wife/September Farm

A Little Bit of Everything

Grace and Love/Momfessionals

2CBC Questions-- February

I'm just popping in today to share the questions for this month's book club selection, Me Before You. I'm excited to see what we all have to say about it next week!

(via)

1. Did you like the book? Was it what you were hoping for or expecting? Why or why not?

2. What do you think the book title Me Before You means? Who is the me and who is the you?

3. "The thing about being catapulted into a whole new life-- or at least, shoved up so hard against someone else's life that you might as well have your face pressed against their window-- is that it forces you to rethink your idea of who you are. Or how you may seem to other people." Louisa Clark, Chapter 5 What do you think of Louisa? Was she a better person at the end of the novel? Why or why not?

4. Will gets a tattoo that reads "Best before 19 March 2007." Will lost a lot in his life but he also chose to leave a lot behind. Did you find anything about the way Will chose to live his life inspiring? Or did you find the way he chose to live is life more difficult to grasp and/or reconcile?

5. What are your final reactions after reading the book? So many issues were raised and so many ideas were presented. How do you feel as you walk away from the book?

See you on Saturday, February 27 for our second meeting of the "Second Chance Book Club!"